Extension-shoe.



l. A. KUL-L, JR.

' EXTENSION SHOE.

APPucATloN FILED MAY lo. |915.

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1,190,915. Patented July 11, 1916.

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JOHN AUGUST KULL, JR., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EXTENSION-SHOE.

To all whom t may concern Y Be it known that I, JOHN A. KULL, Jr., a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and Auseful Improvements in Extension- Shoes, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to improvements in extension shoes, and has for its object the .production of a shoe of this character which will be comfortable in use, one which lwill be strong and durable, and one which will be economical of manufacture.,

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed. v

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an extension shoe embodying the invention, the same being shown in connection with an ordinary outer shoe which is shown in section, Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the extension shoe, and Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sections taken on lines -m and g/-y respectively of Fig. 2. y

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a platform consisting of a slender longitudinally extending member 1, the front end of which is formed to constitute the toe portion of the shoe. Said portion of said member consists of a plurality .of sections 1, and l, the portions l, 1 and l being spaced apart and yieldingly connected by members 2 and 3 formed of rubber or other suitable flexible material. The adjacent surfaces of the members 1, l and l are inclined forwardly so that in the bending of the toe portion of the shoe during luse of the latter, the

strain or pressure upon the members 2 and 3 will be in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal disposition of said member. It has been found in eXtension shoes employing resilient members of the character involved in the present construction, that where said resilient ,members are disposed vertically, the strain or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application led May 10, 1915. Serial No. 27,230.

pressure upon the same, in the bending of the toe of the shoe, is at an angle to the surface between which the member is interposed, with the result that in a short time, the resilient member is caused to shift upwardly and thus form a ridge at the upper side of the shoe which, of course, is undesirable. Through the disposition of the members 2 and 3, as shown and described, the shifting referred to is obviated, with the result that distortion of the upper side or surface of the shoe will be eliminated. Also, through the employment of two resilient members, instead of one Vas is customary, with one of said members' positioned directly under the toe .of the wearer, as shown, the bending of the toe of the shoe is distributed over la greater length and squeezing or pinching of the toe of the wearer prevented. p

Provided at the rearward end ,of the member l are portions 4 and 5 which form the heel of the shoe, the same being fashioned to accommodate the peculiar formation of the foot of the wearer. It has been found that extension shoes of the character under consideration, are very weak at the slender central portion thereof ory just forward of the heel of the shoe, and to strengthen the shoe at this point, the member 1 is formed of hard wood with its grain running lengthwise thereof instead of transversely as is the case with shoes of this character in use at the present time. The members 4 and l5 are formed of soft wood in order vto secure lightness. The body of the platform thus formed is incased in an upper 6 of leather which is provided with lacing at the front as is usual. At the under side of the toe portion `of the body of the platform is provided a layer 7 of leather for reinforcement.

VArising from the rearward endl of the platform at opposite sides thereof are brace bars 8, the lower ends of which are secured to the platform by transversely extending securing devices 9. In order to secure the greatest rigidity in the fastening of the bars 8 to the platform, the lower securing device 9 passes through the rearward end of the member 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Formed upon the bars 8 adjacent the lower extremities thereof are rearwardly projectf ing arms 10 which pass around the back of the member 5, the same overlapping centrally at the back of said member. A securing device 12 passes through said overlapping ends of the members 10 for securely fastening the same to the member 5. Thus the brace rods 8 are further securely fastened in order to afford a secure fastening of the platform to the foot of the wearer'. The upper end portions of bars 8 are inclosed in leather covering strips 11.

Coperating with the upper ends of brace bars 8 is a strap 18 which is adapted for engagement with the front side of the foot of the wearer, a pad 14 being arranged at the inner side ofsaid. strap, as shown. A strap 15 is provided for engagement with the rearward side of the foot resting upon the platform, the straps 13 and 14 being adjustable and adapted to serve the usual function of similar straps employed at the present time 1n shoes of this character.

The rearward side of the upper 6 is open in order to4 permit of ready insertion of the foot into the shoe without unlacing the front side thereof. In order to prevent rearward slipping of the heel of the foot beyond the rearward edge of the member 5 when the shoe is in operative position upon the foot, a closure member 16 is provided which is secured as at 17 at its lower end to the rearward side of the member 5 adjacent the upper edge thereof. The member 16 is formed of leather or other pliable material and is preferably padded to afford comfort in the engagement thereof with the heel of the foot. Said member is of substantially channel form, being shaped to conform with the heel of the foot in connection with which the same is employed. The sides of said member overlap with the sides of the upper 6, engaging against the inner surfaces thereof, said sides of said closure member being of such width and the corresponding edges of the sides of the upper being so disposed, that said closure sides will remain in overlapping relation with the sides of said upper even when said closure member is swung rearwardly to releasing position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. An adjustable strap 18 cooperates with the closure member 16 to hold the latter in operative position. Vith this arrangement, it will be seen, that in the removal of the extension shoe from the foot, it is only required to unbuckle the straps 15 and 18, since when this is done the foot will be released to permit of rearward movement thereof to disengagement. When the foot is in engagement with the extension shoe, the closure member 16 will engage against the heel thereof and thus serve to securely hold the same against rearward slipping.

Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into eect, this is capable of variation and modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. 1n an extension shoe, the combination of a platform adapted to accommodate the foot of the wearer, said platform comprising rigid body and toe parts the adjacent surfaces of which are both inclined forwardly; a flexible connecting member inserted between and connecting said surfaces, and an upper connected to said platform and providing toe space directly above the said flexible connecting members, substantially as described.

2. 1n an extension shoe, the combination of a platform adapted to accommodate the foot of the wearer', said platform comprising a body part and a plurality 0f toe parts, the adjacent surfaces of said parts being spaced apart in substantially parallel relation and inclined forwardly; a flexible connecting member interposed between and connecting each pair of said surfaces, and an upper connected to said platform and providing toe space directly above the said flexible connecting members, substantially as described.

8. 1n an extension shoe, the combination of'a platform formed to accommodate the foot of the wearer; upwardly extending brace bars fixed at their lower ends to said platform at the opposite sides thereof; rearwardly extending portions on said bars adjacent the lower extremities thereof engaging around the back of said platform, the rearward ends of said rearwardly extending portions being overlapped; and a fastening device passing through said overlapping ends and securing the same to said platform, substantially as described.

4l. In an extension shoe, the combination of a platform fashioned to accommodate the foot of the wearer, said platform comprising a slender longitudinally extending member formed of hard wood having its grain running lengthwise of said member, the front end portion of said member constituting the toe portion of the shoe; an elevated heel portionat the rearward end of said member; upwardly extending brace bars arranged at the opposite sides of said platform; and securing devices rigidly connecting the lower ends of said bars with said platform and said heel portion, the

loWermost of said securing devices entering name to this specioation in the presence of said longitudinally extending member, and tWo subscribing Witnesses.

rearwardl eXtendin ortions on said bar intermediite the endgs thereof and embrao- JOHN AUGUST KULL .JR 5 ing seid heel portion, substantially as de- Witnesses:

scribed. JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, In testimony whereof I have signed my HELEN F. Linus Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve, cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

